All It Takes

      "Oh, Brianna, you're not still trying to walk, are you?" her older brother, Tom, said.

      Brianna twisted her head around. "I didn't notice you were there."

      "I'm too stealthy. But Brianna, give up, okay? You're never going to walk again."

      "I will," said Brianna through gritted teeth. "The least you can do is be supportive. Help me up!"

      Tom sighed. His strong hand gripped his sister's forearm and he pulled her up. He followed Brianna, imitating her slow, erratic stride. She whirled around. "Stop!" she shouted.

      Tom backed away, grinning. "Sorry, sis. Fine, you win, I'll stop bothering you for now. There are other Neopets to make fun of. More fish in the sea!"

      Brianna shook her head. Ignoring the throbbing pain, she stretched her right foot out to take one more step. One more, she willed herself. Just one more.

      A jagged bolt of red-hot pain split her back open, and her mind screamed with agony. Her vision went black around the edges, and the world turned on its side as she fell onto the grass. The last thing she felt was Tom's frightened, rapid heartbeat against her head as he tried to shield her from the hurt.

      "You can't climb to the top of that," scoffed Tom. He and young Brianna were standing in the shade of a large Zeenana Tree in the park.

      Brianna squinted up at the silhouette that stretched high into the sky, its bushy leaves covering almost the whole expanse. "Wanna bet?" she said. "I can do anything."

      She let out a loud scream as she lost her hold, gathering speed as she hurtled towards the ground, falling, falling, falling…

      Brianna woke up suddenly, drenched in sweat, tossing and turning with no notion of why she was doing so. Her owner, Jake, was sitting at the foot of her bed, twiddling his thumbs and stealing quick, anxious glances at Brianna.

      She watched him for a while. His smooth golden-brown hair acted like a curtain, almost sealing away his deep-set gray eyes that always seemed to be laughing. There was no smile on his face, only a frown of worry. That had happened a few times before, but his attitude was always easygoing when Brianna was doing well and standing right beside him. Funny, isn't it, thought Brianna, how two such opposite people can be closer than two Pea Chias in a pod.

      Jake noticed Brianna watching him, and his face broke into a grin. "Hey sport. How're you feeling?"

      The question triggered total recall. The brief but joyous moment in which she had thought her life had reverted to the way it was before the accident had vanished. Brianna didn't return the smile. She flipped over on her side so Jake wouldn't see her cry. "I can never make it past the hedge," she whispered.

      Jake sighed. "Oh, Brianna," he said sympathetically. He leaned against her. "I know how much you want to walk, but-"

      "I will walk."

      Jake opened his mouth to argue, but relented. "If that's what you really want," he said. "But it'll be tough. Go for it, Brianna. Your name means 'strong.' You can do it. And I'll be behind you every step of the way."

      Brianna nodded, grateful for the support. I will walk, she thought. It wasn't just a statement.

      It was more like a promise.

      Brianna had heard of Fyora granting some Neopets' grandest wishes. But over the years since her "mishap," Brianna had taught herself not to believe in miracles, not to raise her hopes. She'd have to work hard to be able to walk again.

      It would be easier with her family's support. Brianna could count on Jake. But Tom… Brianna shook her head.

      "At it again, sis?" Tom sighed. He had just come home from playing Feed Florg with his friends.

      "Yes," Brianna muttered. Her foot gave way beneath her as she said that and she stuffed her paw in her mouth so as to prevent the world from hearing her scream of frustration.

      Tom chuckled.

      Brianna rounded on him, her fierce eyes blazing. "Shut up! Leave me alone! It's your fault that I'm hurt anyway! If you hadn't dared me to climb the tree…"

      Tom's face was wiped clean of all emotion. He turned on his heel and vanished into the house.

      Brianna had hit his soft spot. He had never quite gotten over the fact that he (and a twist of fate and a bit of misfortune) had been the cause of Brianna's accident. Brianna shrugged, feeling only a small twist of guilt. He would have to get over it, just as she had.

     And yet she hadn't, not quite. Dreams tortured Brianna's sleep. Memories of the past haunted her. That night, as she began to drift away, her dream started playing like a little movie…

     Bright lights glared at Brianna as she opened her eyes. She raised a hand to shield herself. She blinked a couple of times, trying to figure out where on Neopia she was where the lights could possibly be so bright, and where the air seemed so thick and smelled so sterile. Was she on Kreludor?

     "Where am I?" she asked, not expecting an answer.

     "You will never walk again."

     Despite the unnerving dreams, Brianna kept struggling to overcome her disability even after her owner had forbid her from doing so.

     It had happened after another few attacks of pain. Jake called her aside and told her with a sad face, "Brianna, my sweet. You can't keep doing this. It breaks my heart to see you in pain."

     "But Dad," Brianna whined. "I hate my wheelchair. People stare at me and pity me and I hate that!" She began to cry, something she had only done openly once.

     Jake pulled her into a tight hug. "What we need is a miracle."

     Tom vanished into the shadows. What we need is some clever thinking.

     ***

     Brianna rubbed her eyes sleepily. Two weeks had passed since her owner had forbid her from attempting to walk. Of course, she had practiced behind his back, but because every morning he'd wait in the kitchen for her, she'd need to use her wheelchair.

     "Surprise!" Jake shouted as Brianna entered the kitchen. "Happy birthday!"

     Brianna was dumfounded. She couldn't believe she had forgotten her own birthday. Normally she'd be melancholy. It was exactly two years after the accident. But the sight of her owner standing in the doorway with a huge grin on his face, his hair completely ruffled and wearing a lopsided party hat, surprised her into laughter.

     Normally Tom would be melancholy, too. This was the day his conscience tortured him to no end. However, he was content, but not for the same reason as Brianna. He had a little secret.

     "Eat up!" Jake presented Brianna with the syrup-drenched Hot Cakes grandly. Jake helped Brianna out of her wheelchair, and Tom rushed to help, too. He had reluctantly landed on the decision to be nice to her on her special day, out of the sliver of kindness in his heart. Well, not completely. He'd also have something to hold against her later.

     Brianna pulled away. "I can do it myself," she said stubbornly. She stabbed at her pancakes, trying to eat slowly to savor her favorite food, but not being able to resist gobbling them down in a few bites.

      Brianna's plate empty, Jake exclaimed, "Presents!" and rushed off to retrieve them from their hiding place. Tom also disappeared. Brianna looked after him curiously, not quite able to believe that he had brought her a present. Soon Tom and Jake returned, Jake carrying an armload of neatly-wrapped presents, and Tom a small, oddly shaped package that looked like it had been wrapped in an old issue of the Neopian Times.

      "I'll open Tom's first," Brianna said.

      But her brother shook his head, eyes twinkling. "You'll open this one last."

      Brianna frowned.

      "Fine," said Jake, setting a present in front of Brianna and blowing a Red Kazoo. "Let the unwrapping begin!"

     "Okay, now your present," Brianna said to Tom, shoving the gifts Jake had given her, which were great but predictable, across the table.

      Tom placed the package in front of Brianna, who laid a paw on it, feeling its strange shape. She looked at Tom and the Fire Scorchio grinned and winked, his eyes twinkling. "Go on, open it," he urged.

      Brianna was already tearing off the paper, overcome with curiosity. She stared at the object standing in the pile of shredded newspaper. It was a glass jug filled with light brown liquid. She watched as blue wings unfurled and flapped gently. Brianna swallowed and her eyes grew wide. "A Blue Pteri Morphing Potion?" she said in disbelief.

      Tom nodded, grinning even more than he had when he had led Brianna to believe Jelly World was real. "Yes. My friends chipped in some money so I could buy it. It took a long time of playing Games and all my allowance…" Tom shook his head. "Of course, Jake chipped in, too, but he didn't know what the money was for. And no, we didn't have to steal anything," Tom added hastily at the accusing look on his sister's face.

      Jake laughed. "Well, well, well. So that's what you used the money for. You told me it was for some more Battledome equipment."

      Tom shrugged.

      "But why?" Brianna asked. "I like being a Kacheek."

      "Since Pteris have different bones than Kacheeks, when you drink the potion, the bones will be replaced, and your back will be healed," murmured Jake, suddenly serious.

      Without another moment's hesitation Brianna uncorked the bottle and raised it to her lips. The liquid sloshed against her mouth but she kept it closed, peering through the glass at the expectant faces of Jake and Tom.

      But should she drink it?

      Yes, said a voice in her head. You'll be healed.

      But it will make you seem weak, argued the arrogant side of her.

      You'll be able to walk and even fly!

      You'll lose your reputation.

      If you don't drink it, Tom will be really upset!

      Yeah, well, what do you care more about, Tom or your reputation?

      Brianna felt guilty for taking a couple of moments to think before she decided Tom's feelings were more important. She opened her mouth before she could change her mind, and sweet, blueberry flavored liquid ran down her throat. She drained the bottle in one gulp and set it on the table.

      Suddenly Brianna felt a strange sensation. She held up her paws and watched them grow longer and sprout feathers. Her mouth became a beak, which she clicked experimentally. Her ears shrank to become holes in her head, not visible behind all the soft, blue feathers. But the weirdest feeling happened in her lower back.

      Little sparks, like fireworks, exploded on her back. She turned her head around and saw the sparks jumping down her spine, crackling and whistling. She felt all the ripped muscle in her back tie together, the broken bones become glued.

      And then it was over. Now for the big moment.

      She raised her orange, three-toed foot and slid of the chair. When her feet touched the cold floor, she expected to collapse, and clearly so did Jake, as he was poised ready to catch her. But she didn't fall. She wiggled her claws and took a deep breath. She took a step. Her eyes widened. She flapped her new wings and flew out the window. Left foot. Right foot. Left foot. Right foot. As she walked, her feeling of ecstasy grew. She sighed joyfully. She had made it past the hedge.

The End

Author's Note: Comments appreciated!